Overview

Costa Rica is the only full-fledged and totally independent country to be entirely demilitarized. Its military was abolished in 1948, with the keys to the armory handed to the Department of Education. Socially, Costa Rica is a success story. Although 94th in the world for GDP, it is in the top 10 on various measurements of health and well-being. Citizens enjoy high standards of living that include universal access to healthcare, education, and pensions. In addition, the country practices sustainable resource management, such as reforestation and the development of solar and wind power, and it expects to be carbon neutral by 2020. Hunting is illegal. 25% of the landmass is parks and reserves. The government supports universal health care, especially maternal and child health. Costa Rica even has a Blue Zone, an area where people live extraordinarily long, healthy lives. To some extent, Costa Rica is simply lucky: it was largely inaccessible, and it had virtually no precious minerals, therefore it was mostly spared the ravages of predatory colonialism. The Costa Rican people made very good social decisions, ranging from an avowed commitment to social democracy at the national level, to local land distribution to develop stable middle class farmers. But Costa Rica's neighbors have not enjoyed nearly as much peace and prosperity. It is unlikely that Costa Rica's demilitarization and its remarkable social success are coincidental; clearly, something special is going on. Through good luck, good leadership, and good decisions, Costa Rica has become arguably the sanest and most progressive country on earth. This book examines how and why Costa Rica is safe and independent without any military at all, and what the rest of us can learn from its success.

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9780199924974

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Reviews

Most people think war is ineradicable, because it's part of human nature, but they're wrong. In Strength Through Peace, Lipton and Barash argue that Costa Rica, which abolished its army in 1948, offers hope that the US and other nations can kick the habit of militarism. I hope lots of people read this fascinating, uplifting book, because the first step toward ending war is to believe we can do it. * John Horgan, author of The End of War * Here is a story worth celebrating: Costa Rica's unwavering pursuit of social progress via demilitarization. You will experience renewed hope, and want to share it with all of your friends and loved ones! * Michael Klare, Five College Professor of Peace & World Security Studies, Hampshire College * No book could be more relevant and appropriate to our time than Strength Through Peace. It is imperative that all who care about the sanctity of evolution must read this book and then lead a revolution to preserve all life on earth. * Helen Caldicott, MD, Founder and President [1978-1983], Physicians for Social Responsibility; Founder, Helen Caldicott Foundation for a Nuclear Free Future * Strength Through Peace is an engaging book about Costa Rica, a small country in a dangerous part of the world that abolished its military in 1948 and has tried to meet the needs of its people instead. Costa Rica's bold step continues to provide an important lesson for the world: If you want peace, prepare for peace. * David Krieger, President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation * Costa Rica is a wonderful enigma * and this book helps strip some of the mystery away, explaining how this country manages to be happy and useful despite doing little to damage the planet's environment. It's the kind of lesson we need quickly to learn around the world. *

A timely book! Overall, the book is theoretically well developed, with a wealth of information on this understudied topic, and represents an original and innovative piece of scholarship which adds to the literature. Moreover, it's well-written and lucid which should appeal to generalists seeking a better contextualization of Costa Rica and the region. -- Peace Research Journal In a chatty style, yet brilliantly researched and analyzed, Lipton and Barash unpack the mystery of Costa Rican well-being. How have Ticos escaped the morass of violence, death squads, gangs, drugs and environmental devastation that afflicts their neighbors? How can a nation that is economically poor compete with wealthy Scandinavian countries in creating a positive, vibrant society? Abolishing the military in 1948 is certainly a key element, but read the book for other fascinating pieces of the puzzle and for creative ideas about 'spreading the wealth. -- Medea Benjamin, Co-Director of CODEPINK for Peace One would think that after decades of wars, millions of casualties, and trillions of dollars spent, the U.S. after World War II would have been curious about Costa Rica's experience with Strength Through Peace, especially since our country's mantra of Peace Through Strength has not quite worked out of its ways of violent, quagmire Empire. Read this book by David Barash and Judith Lipton, Americans. We have nothing to lose but our hubris and everything to gain from the Costa Rican experience. -- Ralph Nader, Center for Study of Responsive Law Nuclear weapons don't guarantee peace. They don't even provide peace. Judith Lipton and David Barash's book about Costa Rica proves a country can flourish just fine without a military at all. -- Daniel Ellsberg, author of The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers, and Papers on the War Costa Rica is a wonderful enigma -- and this book helps strip some of the mystery away, explaining how this country manages to be happy and useful despite doing little to damage the planet's environment. It's the kind of lesson we need quickly to learn around the world. -- Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature Strength Through Peace is an engaging book about Costa Rica, a small country in a dangerous part of the world that abolished its military in 1948 and has tried to meet the needs of its people instead. Costa Rica's bold step continues to provide an important lesson for the world: If you want peace, prepare for peace. --David Krieger, President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation No book could be more relevant and appropriate to our time than Strength Through Peace. It is imperative that all who care about the sanctity of evolution must read this book and then lead a revolution to preserve all life on earth. --Helen Caldicott, Founder, Helen Caldicott Foundation for a Nuclear Free Future; former President, Physicians for Social Responsibility; and author of If You Love This Planet An eyes wide open look at the remarkable story of Costa Rica's stand-alone 70 years of demilitarized security. Informed, chatty, anecdotal, and validated by Lipton and Barash's extended direct experience of the country. This book has lessons that, if heeded, could change the world for the better. Read it and decide for yourself. -- Richard Falk, Emeritus Professor of International Law, Princeton University Here is a story worth celebrating: Costa Rica's unwavering pursuit of social progress via demilitarization. You will experience renewed hope, and want to share it with all of your friends and loved ones! --Michael Klare, Five College Professor of Peace & World Security Studies, Hampshire College Most people think war is ineradicable, because it's part of human nature, but they're wrong. In Strength Through Peace, Lipton and Barash argue that Costa Rica, which abolished its army in 1948, offers hope that the US and other nations can kick the habit of militarism. I hope lots of people read this fascinating, uplifting book, because the first step toward ending war is to believe we can do it. --John Horgan, author of The End of War

Author Information

David P. Barash is an evolutionary biologist, Professor of Psychology emeritus at the University of Washington, and author of more than 200 technical research articles, and 39 books. He is also a long-time peace activist and was named by a right-wing organization as one of the 64 most dangerous professors in the US. Judith Eve Lipton is a psychiatrist who practiced psychopharmacology and psychosomatic medicine for 30 years. She learned sociobiology from David Barash, and they went on to maximize their fitness by investing in 4 children and 7 grandchildren, so far, not to mention co-authoring 8 books, about war, sex, and human nature. She is passionate about animals, peace, and the prevention of nuclear war.

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